Wisconsin to Bike Week via the RSV

[dynodon]

So Bob, you comin' back through Illinois? Want another escort for a few miles? We have good weather forcast for the next few days. Went for a ride today and didn't even use my electric gloves!

 

Let me know if you are coming through Bloomington again.

[Bubber]

We are all living vicariously through your Daytona posts.

 

 

Keep up the good work and having fun.

[Scooter Bob]

Look what else I found yesterday morning at a wayside....

 

Ya, Hey, those are real bees crawling around on those soda cans in the recycling bin...

 

Man, am I easily amused or what?

 

Later, Scooter Bob

[Scooter Bob]

ok bob!!

 

you, your bike, a palm tree and 2 other ventures!! oh, and a beach for don!!

 

heck, you have hit every other target that has been requested, why stop now??

 

Sorry Mike, I tried.

 

couldn't find any palm trees around there, but I did find 2 other ventures at the ABATE campground.

 

Couldn't find the owner of the first one, But the second one was Doc, and he's seen this sight (although not a member, yet...).

 

Be heading through Columbia, SC tomorrow morning, and then up through the Virginias.

 

Later, Scooter Bob

[Scooter Bob]

This was a heck of a site as I came up to it. From the top, you could see shipping harbors on both sides. Bridge is 2 miles long. It's on the east side bypass of Jacksonville, FL. Could only look around so much though, what with the 20 m.p.h. crosswind as I rode over it...

 

Later, Scooter Bob

[Scooter Bob]

Even the "Girl's Gone Wild" folks packed up and headed south.

 

I met the bus on Tuesday morning, headed south towards Tampa.

 

I'm pretty sure they weren't going to find much of what they were looking for at bike week.

 

Later, Scooter Bob

[Scooter Bob]

Go run the Dragon, or add the Virginias to the visited map..

 

Deal's Gap web site didn't give much info on the CURRENT road conditions.

 

Jeff (Red Rider from Fond du lac) tells me that I77 from Columbia, SC to Charleston, WV is a pretty scenic drive for a big road.

 

I'm getting pretty homesick, so I think the Virginia's it is, makein' good time and still seeing some pretty country.

 

Time to pack things up this morning, Scooter Bob

[RedRider]

Scooter Bob,

 

Ride safely.

 

If you are interested in a little seat comfort while still on the road, there is an IKEA store in Charlotte that sells sheep skins for about $25. Just be careful going into IKEA and make sure no one you know sees you go in. It's kind of a ... umm .... let's just say ... a chick place. You may want to take your chaps off before you go in.

 

Take I-77 thru Charlotte and pick up I-85 going north to Greensboro/Winston-Salem. In a few miles, take exit 43 South (City Blvd). The map on the IKEA website has the store in the NE corner of that intersection. The IKEA stores are generally big, square, stand alone, and very blue. Hard to miss.

 

They will have sheep skins in a big box. Website states they have 47 of the small skins in stock. Opens at 10:00. (704) 549-4532

 

It will make a nice improvement to your seating environment. You might find this 20 minute side trip will make a significant different for the balance of your trip.

 

Enjoy the ride thru the Virginias. If you happen to stay in Beckly, WV, see if Char's is still open. They have/had a great fillet. The story was that the local Madam got out of the oldest profession and opened the second oldest.

 

RR

[eusa1]

great pics bob!

 

wise choice to take Va. over the dragon, the dragon is neat, but very small to compare to the views of Va.

keep snappin them pics!! we are keeping things cold for you up here!!

mike.

[Scooter Bob]

Jeff (Red Rider from Fond du lac) tells me that I77 from Columbia, SC to Charleston, WV is a pretty scenic drive for a big road.

 

wise choice to take Va. over the dragon, the dragon is neat, but very small to compare to the views of Va.

 

Mike and Jeff:buttkick:

 

Thanks for tip. I'll have to try to get back here when it's warmer, and get on some of these other roads.

 

Actually, what I could see of it was some spectacular views. I'm surprised they don't have any "scenic overlooks", places to pull off and look around.

 

Problem was the traffic. It's been brutal pretty much all day long. 3/4ths of it was semis. Once you cross the NC/VA line its nothing but hills, either passing or being passed by trucks all the time. I could hardly ever take my eyes off the road, or even stay in the same lane for more than a mile.

 

I'm not sure why, but maybe because part of I 40 is closed due to a rock slide by the TN/NC border and they are using this for a detour route?

 

But hey, the was shining on me all day long again, and my map is getting pretty full now! Life is good!

 

More to come, Scooter Bob

[Scooter Bob]

You guys are all right in my book.

 

You really know how to make a guy feel at home.

 

This is just so sweet, naming a town after me and all...

 

 

Later, Scooter Bob

[Scooter Bob]

I think I'm going the wrong way. Better turn around and head back south for another month or so.

 

What a shocker. I road all morning and half the afternoon with my visor open on my snowmobile helmet, no grip heaters required, just my good gloves. Hadn't seen a single spec of snow at all.

 

Within 10 miles of crossing the NC/VA border, visor down, heaters on, and snow all over in the hills. Welcome back to winter I guess.

 

I'm staying in Beckley, WV tonight. About a 440 mile day, including the detour to visit the town they named after me.

 

I've got my that the 20% chance of snow forecast for tonight falls apart or melts real quick tomorrow. At least I'm only 1/2 a block from the on ramp when it clears up.

 

Better put the long john's back on for tomorrow, as well as the heat packs in my boots and gloves.

 

Later, Scooter Bob

[Squidley]

Take your time and be safe, I know right where your at as we have been through there several times on our trips to NC.

[Scooter Bob]

Looks like the will be shining on me all day again. Life is sooo goood.

 

Gonna try to get an earlier start out of here this morning, and maybe the traffic won't be so bad for a while.

 

 

Gonna try to visit a sick uncle in Fort Wayne or Huntington, IN this afternoon.

 

 

Kinda got a keep rolling though, if I want to stay dry for this whole trip. Looks like if I don't get home Saturday night, I'll be getting on Sunday where ever I am.

 

Later, Scooter Bob

[bryan52577]

Drive careful Scotter Bob. You are getting back up here where them cagers aint seen no bike for months! Have enjoyed your whole trip from my computor.

Hope you can come down for the Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ill and Mo M&E on May 1st. If you can bring your pictures!!

See you later

Bryan

[Scooter Bob]

So Bob, you comin' back through Illinois? Want another escort for a few miles? We have good weather forcast for the next few days. Went for a ride today and didn't even use my electric gloves!

 

Let me know if you are coming through Bloomington again.

 

Don't hold your breath Don, much as I'd like to see another bike on the road again. I had still been seeing tons of bikes being ridden south till I got north of Charlette yesterday. Now they've all deserted me.

 

Much as I hate the thought of it, I'll probably brave the big city traffic to get home quicker.

 

Hey Eagle Eye, which bypass loop did you take on the way back from Don's Maint Day last year?

 

Later, Scooter Bob

[Gamecock]

You guys are all right in my book.

 

You really know how to make a guy feel at home.

 

This is just so sweet, naming a town after me and all...

 

 

Later, Scooter Bob

 

 

No prob! From SC originally! Santee is home to some of the world's best cat fishing! You probably crossed Lake Marion, WOW they got some whoppers in there! Also great for bass fishing!

 

Ben

[Scooter Bob]

Hope you can come down for the Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ill and Mo M&E on May 1st.

 

I'll try to put it on my calendar, and see what things look like when it gets closer. Sounds like fun.

 

I'll be looking for some more miles this summer. I'd like to see the clock over 75,000 when the warranty runs out July 10. Less than 10,000 to go when I get done with this trip.

 

Later, Scooter Bob

[kbran]

Enjoyed having you over and hope you have a safe trip and dry the rest of the way.

[RedRider]

Much as I hate the thought of it, I'll probably brave the big city traffic to get home quicker.

 

Hey Eagle Eye, which bypass loop did you take on the way back from Don's Maint Day last year?

 

Bob,

 

Your route thru Chicago depends upon the time of day and where in WI you are going. If you are stopping by Mi Casa in Fond du Lac, you want to come thru Milwaukee. If you are heading home to Fox Lake, I would go thru Madison.

 

OK, here are the likely best options (not sure what construction is going on in Chicago) -

 

From Huntington/Fort Wayne: Take US30 west to hwy 49 North in Valparaiso. Fill up with gas at the Mobile station there 'cause that will be the cheapest gas for a while and you don't want to worry about gas in Chicago.

 

If it is lunchtime, stay on 30 past 49 about 1/4 miles and stop at Strongbows - get the turkey potpie (Mmmmm, yummy). If you have some saddle bag room, pick up a dozen (you get 13) frozen for me and I will pay you back when you get here. Anyhooo... 49 North to the I-80 toll road west. This is where the suggested directions diverge based on time-of-day.

 

To FDL - hitting Chicago 9:30 am to 2:30 pm

Take the Skyline (I-90) directly thru Chicago. Stop at the McDonalds just before the big toll booth in western Indiana to hit the head. You will be heading past the beautiful scenery of the USX Gary Works steel mill and there will be no good place to stop until you get to the north side of Chicago. Follow I-90 until you see I-94 to Wisconsin. Take I-94 North and you should be able to find your way from there - it runs into the SE side of Milwaukee.

 

To FDL - hitting Chicago past 2:30 pm

Follow I-80 West until it hits the 294 bypass north. You may be able to skip the McDonalds stop since there are rest areas on the bypass. Follow 294 north until it meets back up with I-94 and follow to Wisconsin.

 

To Fox Lake - anytime

Follow I-80 West until it hits the 294 bypass north. Just past the I-88 interchange, take I-290 west. Follow I-290 until you hit I-90 to Rockford. Continue to Madison and you know your way from there.

 

As you may know, miles mean nothing getting thru Chicago. It is all about time of day and routing.

 

I will have my seat with me in Chicago tonight. If it works out meeting up tomorrow for you to try it out - great. Otherwise, I will see you in FDL or at BN on Monday.

 

Ride safely.

 

RR

[dynodon]

Bob, Supposed to be near 50 today around Peoria, IL, the wife and I will go for lunch on bikes.

 

Turns out I have to go to an event in my cage in Chicago area Saturday. Hope to get another ride in Sunday.

 

Glad you are having a great trip, best wishes for continued good weather and good rides all the way home to that gal that has been so supportive.

 

Oh, man I need to get out more, my "states map" is pathetic!

[dave_wells]

I was short but a good I enjoyed our meet up In Pickerington Ohio today

 

Drive safe

 

 

[Scooter Bob]

I was short but a good I enjoyed our meet up In Pickerington Ohio today

 

Drive safe

 

 

 

That was a nice place, and excellant pizza!

 

Have a great time at the music festival.

 

Later, Scooter Bob

[Scooter Bob]

Bob, Supposed to be near 50 today around Peoria, IL, the wife and I will go for lunch on bikes.

 

Did you make it out?

 

I did actually see three other bikes on the road today. One on the bypass around Columbus, OH, and the other two in Rockford, OH.

 

Oh, man I need to get out more, my "states map" is pathetic!

 

Now that you brought it up, you may be right.

 

I added 9 new ones on this trip. But hey, that's what I set out to do. Lots of pretty country out there, just gotta find the time to go see it.

 

Next time I set a scavenger target, I'll send you to Kentucky...

 

Later, Scooter Bob

[Scooter Bob]

Mike and Jeff:buttkick:

 

:sign13:Sorry guys, I take back everything bad I said and thought about you guys last night.

 

I headed down the North side of the mountains towards Charleston, WV around 8 this morning. Very little traffic, and all over the place and about 25 degrees out.

 

Now I can see what you were talking about.

 

I found a couple places to pull off and finally take some without fear of getting mowed over.

 

What an awesome ride..

 

More to come, Scooter Bob